The new 2012 Terenal wines are in and really advise you all to try them out. The Malbec is awesome, with lovely blue and black fruit. Close your eyes - I dare you to not think it is an Australian Shiraz with its floral, and blueberry notes.

I just called them and asked specifically for the Terrenal wines and - yes they have them. Again, I am not pushing wines here. If you want it buy it, if not - no worries. The wine is available, and I called, they have both the 2012 Malbec and Chardonnay - just ask for them by name and not by kosher. As they are nice wines - not withstanding the kosher or mevushal fact - and that is not how they are labeled in the Trader Joe's stores.

David, I have no problem with anything you have said, except... you sure we're talking about a Malbec which is well under a year old? And you're comparing it to Aussie Shiraz rather than Beaujolais? It's a leap of faith for me, man. On the other hand, the Chardonnay seems very much realistic.

Craig - I would love your opinion! Dude we are talking about going to your local Trader Joe's and buying two bottles (Chard and Malbec) for 11 bucks total (including tax). Than tell me! I would love to hear your opinion. I may be wrong and respect your palate - so give it to us baby!!!!

Craig Winchell wrote:David, I have no problem with anything you have said, except... you sure we're talking about a Malbec which is well under a year old? And you're comparing it to Aussie Shiraz rather than Beaujolais? It's a leap of faith for me, man. On the other hand, the Chardonnay seems very much realistic.

Craig you're by far more of an expert than me, but I've never had any Malbec whether 6 months or 3 y.o. that tasted like a Beaujolais. However one might indeed mistake the Teperberg Malbec 2009 for a Shiraz, I'd understand the confusion considering its spicy-plummy fruit profile.

Gabe, what I meant was that we're discussing a wine well under a year past harvest in the southern hemisphere. Harvest was probably February, or early March. With that in mind, producing a complete red wine this soon after harvest depends upon the stylistic approach one takes. One stressing early harvest, cool fermentation, early pressing off skins with little addition of press wine, and taking steps to remove tannic profile, is more akin to Beaujolais than Australian Shiraz. Making wine like Aussie Shiraz woiuld likely require far more time before bottling and release. Tasting like Aussie Shiraz implies high ripeness, and should not be conducive to early release like this.

Craig Winchell wrote:Gabe, what I meant was that we're discussing a wine well under a year past harvest in the southern hemisphere. Harvest was probably February, or early March. With that in mind, producing a complete red wine this soon after harvest depends upon the stylistic approach one takes. One stressing early harvest, cool fermentation, early pressing off skins with little addition of press wine, and taking steps to remove tannic profile, is more akin to Beaujolais than Australian Shiraz. Making wine like Aussie Shiraz woiuld likely require far more time before bottling and release. Tasting like Aussie Shiraz implies high ripeness, and should not be conducive to early release like this.

My wife purchased the 2 Terrenals in question. One was $3.99/bottle, the other $4.99/bottle. I think I'll wait until Shabbos to open them. Unfortunately, will not be able to take notes. Fortunately, I'll be able to drain the bottles, and report genral feelings about the wines.

I've tried both these wines several times in the past few days. They're pretty good and have come a long way from being the kosher "Two Buck Chuck." A decent wine you don't have to think too hard about.

As I told David, I thought the Chard was worth multiples of its price, but the Malbec left me cold. It was just another mediocre Argentine Malbec. On the other hand, it wasn't worse than that, and it was cheap.

Craig Winchell wrote:As I told David, I thought the Chard was worth multiples of its price, but the Malbec left me cold. It was just another mediocre Argentine Malbec. On the other hand, it wasn't worse than that, and it was cheap.

I thought it was the "best of the worst" that I've tried (as bad as that might sound) and I much prefer it to Tierra Salvaje, Valero, and others. I also prefer the Chard.

Well I wish we had wines that decent at such price point in Israel. There are lots of Chilean and Argentinian stuff here for about 25-30 shekel ($ 6.5-7.5) but my experience has taught me to stay away from those...

Yesterday I got a great deal at a cheese shop in Binyamina and bought 2 bottles of Elvi, Mati 09 and Clasico 08 for 40 shekels each ($10.5). Looking forward to taste these.